Amid all the fracas of late, it is hard to believe that things could get any worse in Indonesian politics. Lawmakers have shown their clear intention to turn back the clock on democratization with the passage of the regional elections law that ends direct elections of mayors, district heads and governors, and – not long before that, when all eyes were on the July 9 presidential election – with the law on legislative bodies.

A year that should have been a feast of democracy could now go down in history as the one that saw the end of representative government as we know it. But things could still get a lot worse.

Experts are raising the specter of a House of Representatives bent on pulling out the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s teeth.

Noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, for instance, warns that the House has the authority to cripple the KPK, and can do so simply by amending the anti-corruption law. Already, the law on legislative bodies, or MD3 law, requires the KPK to seek permission from the leaders of the House to question legislators it believes to be involved in graft cases.

In this regard, it is not very surprising that some have expressed concerns over the appointment of Setya Novanto – accused of involvement, though never charged, in a number of corruption cases – as House speaker, and Fahri Hamzah – who in the past has suggested to do away with the KPK altogether – as one of his deputies.

Hopefully, now that not only the nation's netizens but also its captains of industry are sounding the alarm bells over the prospect of protracted political instability, lawmakers and other stakeholders will realize that it's not too late to continue on the path of democratization. All should realize, however, that on that path, an independent and assertive KPK is crucial to keep everybody honest.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-beware-lawmakers-setting-sights-kpk/